BA Introducing SMS & Internet On Planes

We’ve seen this idea toyed with for a number of years but now it seems a few big guns are beginning to take it seriously…

Following the Ofcom approval of using mobile phones on planes last year Ryanair has already hopped aboard and now the big whale of British Airways has also been landed.

Beginning in the autumn, BA will introduce the service initially to its famed twice daily route between London and New York for business class travellers. Passengers will be able to send and receive text messages, check emails and even access the Internet.

“The service is aimed at people in the Square Mile,” said a BA spokesman emphasising not only its core audience but hinting at a heavy price tag. “We believe the route and the new technology will offer an appealing package to business travellers. There are no plans for voice calls at the moment but we will listen to feedback from passengers (but) the customer is in charge.”

The move from BA could finally signal a momentum for these services too with BMI currently trialling such a service and – along with Ryanair – Air France, Qantas, TAP Air Portugal, Kingfisher, Air Asia, Oman Air and Royal Jordanian all testing or considering the technology.

Personally, I say bring it on – as long as voice calls remain off the menu (can you ”imagine” the irritation?!) – as what better way to kill time than surf the web and get around to sending that email to Auntie Joyce you’ve always meant too. And besides, if you’re about to crash you can always blog it or send it to Twitter!